Device for removal of an aorta valve at a human heart in course of a minimal surgical operation

ABSTRACT

What is described here is a device for ablation of an aortic valve on the human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation, comprising a centring and fixing body adapted to be introduced inside the aorta, which can be fixed relative to the aorta via at least one holding means, a drive shaft projecting centrally through said centring and fixing body, at least in part, and presenting a distal end, a cutting device fixedly mounted for rotation on the drive shaft in the region of the distal end of the drive shaft, as well as an aspiration device provided on the proximal side, relative to said cutting means, on said centring and fixing body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for ablation of an artic valve on the human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation.

PRIOR ART

[0002] The malfunctioning of an aortic valve results in cardiac insufficiency and hence in a situation that is potentially fatal for the patient. For repair of such a defect, artificial aortic valves have been developed which are implanted as substitute for the damaged valve in complex and risky open-heart surgery (sternotomy). The operation becomes particularly difficult when there is strong calcareous degeneration on the natural valve because painstaking attention must be paid during removal in order to ensure that calcification particles will not enter the blood circulation and cause there thromboses at other sites in the body. It is common to fasten the replacement valves—which are either mere engineering products or derived from porcine valves—by suturing in the place of the removed valve.

[0003] There are numerous approaches in the development of methods simplifying this complex procedure of aortic-valve replacement in terms of both the surgical technique and the discomfort and strain for the patient, aiming at a minimally invasive technique of replacement of the aortic valve. In these approaches, the operation is performed via the femoral artery or even through the groin.

[0004] In view of the very restricted possibilities of access in the aortic arch, it is inevitable to adopt complex surgical strategies, firstly for explantation of the calcified artic valve and secondly for implantation of an artificial valve in situ. Apart from all difficulties involved in the surgical operation—even though minimally invasive surgery is concerned that operates on advanced catheter technology—a maximum of concentration and above all a steady hand is demanded from the surgeon, specifically as the individual steps of surgical handling are within the millimeter range and therebelow. With the minimally invasive operation being performed with a sustained natural function of the heart, it is moreover important to carry out the operation as quickly as possible in order to keep the strain on the cardiac system at a minimum, which means that an operation of this kind is performed under a certain pressure in terms of time.

[0005] A special aspect is the explantation or ablation of the calcified aortic valve that must be removed completely from the aorta as quickly as possible, without lesion of adjoining unaffected tissue regions, specifically as the explantation involves mostly the application of mechanically acute cutting tools. Furthermore, it is important to ensure that severed tissue fragments or calcification particles will be extracted from the blood stream without any residues so as to avoid the occurrence of embolism or thromboses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention is based on the task of solving the problem configuring a device for ablation of an aortic valve on the human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation in such a way that the ablation of the calcified valve will be performed rapidly, without any residues and without excessive strain on the surrounding tissue material. It should become possible to collect severed calcification particles or freely movable tissue fragments completely or to extract them from the blood stream, respectively, by means of the device. In particular, the device should allow the removal of the valve while the natural cardiac action is sustained.

[0007] The solution to the problem underlying the present invention is defined in claim 1. Expedient improvements of the inventive idea are the subject matters of the dependent claims and can be derived from the text of the following description presented with reference to the embodiments.

[0008] In accordance with the present invention a device for ablation of the aortic valve on the human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation is configured to comprise a centring and fixing body adapted to be introduced inside the aorta, which body can be fixed, relative to the aorta, via at least one holding means. A drive shaft projecting through the centring and fixing body in a central position, at least partly, comprises a distal end on whose distal terminal section a cutting means is fixed for rotation. Moreover, on the centring and fixing body, on the proximal side relative to the cutting means, an aspirator means is provided through which the blood present in the aorta as well as calcification particles detached by the process of severing the calcified aortic valve may bee extracted from the blood stream.

[0009] The centring and fixing body, which is preferably configured in the form of a hollow cylinder, comprises holding means that serve for fixing the centring and fixing body inside the aorta at an invariably defined location. The holding means are preferably designed as dilatable volume elements in the form of balloons or holding webs spreadable away from the cylinder, which are mounted on the outside cylinder wall. In this manner, it is possible that the centring and fixing body remains automatically stationary inside the aorta.

[0010] A particularly preferred embodiment provides for a fixedly implanted operating structure for positioning the centring and fixing body inside the aorta, which structure conforms to the inner wall of the aorta at a suitable location—e.g. at a point adjacent to the aortic valve to be ablated—in a stationary manner. The operating structure in its turn comprises a bayonet catch for a detachable fixed connection, into which the correspondingly shaped counter-contour of the bayonet catch can be inserted on the centring and fixing body. The operating structure, which will not be discussed here in further details, serves as topologic fixing point for both the device in its inventive configuration and further surgical tools, specifically catheter tools.

[0011] The inventive device for the selective ablation of the aortic valve will be explained in more details in the following, with reference to the figures described hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The following is an exemplary description of the present invention by embodiments, without any limitation of the general inventive idea, with reference to the drawing wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken through an embodiment of the inventive design;

[0014]FIGS. 2a, b are each sectional views in correspondence with the sectional planes indicated in FIG. 1; as well as

[0015]FIGS. 3a, b, c, d represent the elastically insufflatable aortic valve membrane for maintaining the natural cardiac rhythm.

WAYS OF REALISING THE INVENTION, INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0016]FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view taken through the device of the inventive design, including a centring and fixing body configured in the form of a cylinder 1. In a direction towards the proximal side—i.e. towards the bottom in the Figure—the cylinder 1 is fixedly connected to a (non illustrated) hollow catheter in a fluid-tight manner for detachment. On two opposing lateral wall regions inside the cylinder 1 two feeder or discharge lines 2, respectively, are provided that open into elastically deformable cardiac valves 3 of a membrane-like design on the distal side of the cylinder 1. The elastically designed artificial cardiac valves 3 peripherally enclose the upper section of the cylinder 1—as will be explained in details in the following—which is provided with a cover plate 4. The function of the artificial cardiac valves 3 will equally be discussed below.

[0017] Inside the cylinder 1, an electric motor 5 is connected to a drive shaft 6, with the drive shaft 6 projecting the cover plate 4 on the distal side. A cutting device 7 is fixedly disposed for rotation on the distal side drive shaft (6) region, which device consists of two coherent supporting elements 8 in the illustrated embodiment. The supporting elements 8 are stationarily connected to the distal end of the drive shaft whereas their end on the proximal side is configured for longitudinal movement relative to the drive shaft 6. Cutting elements 9 are provided centrally relative to the supporting elements 8, which cutting elements create a cutting effect on the surrounding tissue, in response to an appropriate sense of rotation, in such a way that the tissue will be cut out in the form of a circular ring by the rotating movement of the cutting elements 9.

[0018] The electric motor 5 is mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder so that the drive shaft can be shifted by the cover plate 4 towards the distal and proximal sides. When the electric motor is shifted in the proximal direction the supporting elements 8 are urged against the cover plate 4 whilst the cutting device 7 is spread. Depending on the position of the electric motor 5 inside the cylinder 1 and, as a consequence, depending on the spreading of the supporting elements 8, it is possible that with a corresponding rotation of the cutting elements 9 apertures of different diameters are cut from a tissue region, e.g. from a calcified cardiac valve. Moreover, the cover plate 4 provides for openings 10 through which the blood above the cover plate may enter the interior of the cylinder 1 from where it can be passed in a proximal direction through an appropriate hollow catheter (not illustrated) for discharge from the body.

[0019] The sectional view illustrated in FIG. 2a corresponds to the linear section according to the line A, B in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2a, the two feeder or discharge lines 2 can be seen that oppose each other inside the cylinder 1. Moreover, a spacer element 11 ensures the central positioning of the electric motor 5 inside the cylinder 1. The blood that has entered the interior of the cylinder 1 can flow out to the proximal side through the regions 12, 13.

[0020]FIG. 2b illustrates a sectional view in correspondence with the linear section C, D according to FIG. 1 and shows substantially the structure of the cover plate 4. The two openings 10 are provided in the cover plate 4, which are oriented in registry with the regions 12, 13. Furthermore, openings 14 are provided which correspond to the feeder or discharge lines 2, respectively. An opening 15 is provided centrally relative to the opening 15 through which the drive shaft 6 of the motor 5 is passed.

[0021]FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the insufflated artificial cardiac valve element 3 that is mounted on the distal side on the cylinder 1. In correspondence with FIG. 3b, the cardiac valve element 3 ensures that in the insufflated, i.e. inflated, condition it will establish a fluid-tight sealing against the vascular wall. Due to the insufflated condition of the artificial cardiac valve, the natural blood stream is discontinued. When the artificial cardiac valve is deflated the natural blood stream can flow through the aorta without being obstructed, by passing along the cylinder 1, as is shown in FIG. 3c. FIG. 3b shows a sectional view of the artificial cardiac valve 3 with details of the structure.

[0022] The following is a detailed description of the mode of operation of the inventive device.

[0023] The presence of the aforementioned operating structure—which is fixed and implanted already in the aortic arch and serves as topologically fixed supporting means—is expedient for the minimally invasive surgical operation for ablation of a calcified aortic valve. The operating structure provides in particular for a detachable fixed bayonet catch means on which engages an appropriately configured counter-holding means provided on the cylinder 1 of the afore-explained device on the outer wall of the cylinder. The holding means, which is designed as bayonet catch, is mounted on the outer wall of the cylinder even though it is not illustrated in details in the drawing.

[0024] The surgical device configured in the form illustrated in FIG. 1 is inserted into the interior of the operating structure and appropriately fixed with the operating structure. The cylinder 1 is positioned relative to the cardiac valve to be ablated in such a way that the cutting device 7 projects into the zone of the cardiac valve to be ablated. When the electric motor 7 turns in the corresponding sense of rotation the cutting elements 9 are equally caused to rotated, so that a circular hole can be shelled out from the calcified tissue. When the motor 5 is retracted inside the cylinder 1 in a proximal direction the supporting elements 8 are spread and hence the cutting diameter is enlarged. In this manner, a cardiac valve can be radially exfoliated from the inside towards the outside by means of the cutting elements. During the surgical operation the provisional resilient cardiac valve 3, which is preferably made of an elastomer material, assumes the valve function. When the valve is in its deflated condition the blood flows between the outer walls of the cylinder and the tissue wall of the aorta. When the cardiac valve is pressurised through the feeder line 2 and by the ribs of the elastomer material the membrane 3 is spread and seals itself against the tissue wall of the aorta. The blood stream is hence stopped. The function of the artificial aortic valve is externally controlled from the outside. The pressure in the heart, the potential of the sino-atrial node or any other physiological signal may be used as control signal. With this concept, an optional adjustment of the closing interval of the valve is possible for surgical reasons, for instance, the valve may also be held in the closed condition over one or several periods.

[0025] A defective natural cardiac valve is ablated as follows:

[0026] After the cylinder 1 has been axially positioned inside the non-illustrated operating structure the aortic valve to be removed is dilated in the manner explained above, using the drive shaft 6 and the cutting elements 9. At the same time, the provisional cardiac valve 3 is pressurised so that it will seal automatically against the aorta wall. Then the drive shaft is caused to rotate and the cutting device 7 with the cutting elements 9 exfoliates the aortic valve from the inside. During the closing period of the provisional valve 3, the blood, together with the removed material, is pumped through the aspiration opening 10 out of the body. The blood can then be cleaned by removal of particles and subjected to an appropriate processing operation outside the bodies. When there are no particles in the aorta any more the artificial cardiac valve 3 may be opened and closed in correspondence with the pulse rhythm. After a recovery pause the valve is closed again and a new processing cycle is carried out. In this step, the motor 5 is retracted in the proximal direction so that the cutting device spreads and that the ablation of the natural valve can be continued. These cycles are repeated several times until the aortic valve has been removed to a sufficient extent. Then the entire device can be appropriately unlocked and removed from the body again. The application for a permanent artificial valve must subsequently be performed directly with further surgical instruments, using the operating structure. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 cylinder 2 feeder or discharge lines 3 artificial valve, membrane 4 cover plate 5 electric motor 6 drive shaft 7 cutting device 8 supporting element 9 cutting element 10  opening in the cover plate 11  positioning frame 12, 13 discharge regions 14  opening 15  opening 

1. Device for ablation of an aortic valve on the human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation, comprising a centring and fixing body adapted to be introduced inside the aorta, which can be fixed relative to the aorta via at least one holding means, a drive shaft projecting centrally through said centring and fixing body, at least in part, and presenting a distal end, a cutting device fixedly mounted for rotation on the drive shaft in the region of the distal end of the drive shaft, as well as an aspiration device provided on the proximal side, relative to said cutting means, on said centring and fixing body.
 2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said centring and fixing body is designed in the manner of a cylinder.
 3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said cylinder provides for an outer cylinder wall on which said holding means are provided, and that said holding means are dilatable volume elements or holding webs adapted to be spread away from said cylinder.
 4. Device according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that said holding means of said centring and fixing body is configured in the manner of a bayonet catch via which said centring and fixing body can be fixedly connected for detachment to or from an operating structure that can be implanted inside the aorta for permanent stay there.
 5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that said operating structure is designed in the manner of a sleeve in such a way that the sleeve can be invariably positioned and fixed on the vesicular wall of the aorta and presents a bayonet catch on its inner sleeve wall, to which the bayonet catch of said centring and fixing body can be fixedly joined for detachment.
 6. Device according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said centring and fixing body is configured as hollow cylinder that is adapted for attachment on the distal end of a hollow catheter while inside the body an electric motor is provided from which projects said drive shaft that extends in a distal direction and passes through the hollow cylinder and through a cover plate connected to said hollow cylinder.
 7. Device according to the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that said centring and fixing body is configured as hollow cylinder that is mounted on the distal end of a hollow catheter, through which said drive shaft extends and projects in a distal direction through said hollow cylinder and through a cover plate that is connected to said hollow cylinder.
 8. Device according to claims 6 or 7, characterised in that at least one opening is provided in said cover plate, which is joined by an aspiration line connected to said aspiration device.
 9. Device according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that said cover plate provides for a peripherally extending insufflatable artificial cardiac valve that in the insufflated condition bears in a fluid-tight manner against the inside of the vesicular wall of the aorta and can be spaced from the vesicular wall in a deflated condition.
 10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that at least one insufflation duct is provided inside said centring and fixing body, through which said artificial cardiac valve, which consists of a resilient membrane, can be insufflated and deflated again.
 11. Device according to any of the claims 7 to 10, characterised in that said cutting means comprises at least two cutting tools disposed in symmetry relative to said drive shaft, with each cutting tool being provided with a supporting element adapted to be deformed in the longitudinal direction relative to said drive shaft and being fixedly connected on the distal end of said drive shaft as well as connected to said drive shaft at a second location located in the proximal direction towards the distal end of said drive shaft, however in a distal direction relative to said cover plate, for longitudinal movement relative to said drive shaft., and that a cutting element is provided in an approximately central relationship to said supporting element.
 12. Device according to claim 11, characterised in that said drive shaft is supported for longitudinal movement relative to said cover plate such that said supporting elements can be spread against said cover plate, which causes a radial outward movement of said cutting elements. 